Method Book Recommendations
Great lesson stars with great learning materials
One challenge many self-taught students face is finding the right method book that suits their learning style and musical goals. If you’ve been teaching yourself but aren’t sure where to go next, don’t worry—these recommended books are a great starting point! They’re designed to guide you through structured lessons, build your skills, and help you develop a strong musical foundation. With the right resources, you’ll be on the path to reaching your musical goals in no time!
Piano Methods
For Young Beginners (Ages 4 - 6)
- Faber’s My First Piano Adventures Series: Level A – C (2 books: Lesson & Writing Book A)
- Alfred’s Music for Little Mozarts: Level A – C (3 books: Lesson, Workbook, Recital Book)
- Alfred’s Basic Piano Library, Prep Course: Level A – C (3 books: Lesson, Solo, Theory Book)
Extras for Ages 4 - 6
- Progressive’s Young Beginner’s Piano Method(Vol. 1-3)
- FJH Succeeding at the Piano(All In One – leveled)
- Faber’s Christmas – My First Piano Adventures
For Young Beginners (Ages 4 - 6)
- Progressive’s Young Beginner’s Piano Method(Vol. 1-3)
- FJH Succeeding at the Piano(All In One – leveled)
- Faber’s Christmas – My First Piano Adventures
For Elementary Beginners (Ages 7 - 10)
- Faber’s Piano Adventures Series: Primer – Level 4 (4 books: Lesson, Technique, Theory, Performance)
- Bastien Piano Basics: Primer – Level 4 (4 books: Piano, Theory, Technique, Performance)
- Alfred’s Basic Piano Course: Primer – Level 5
Alternate Methods & Methods for Older Students
- John Thompson Piano Course: Book 1-5
- Alfred’s All In One Adult Piano Course
- Faber’s Adult Piano Adventures(All In One)
- Faber’s Accelerated Piano Adventures: Level 1 & 2 (4 books: Lesson, Theory, Technique, Performance)
- Joining the Dots series– ABRSM prep
- Method Rose
Supplemental Material: Solos & Repertoire
- Classical: Bastien, Faber, Keith Snell, ABRSM Leveled Piano Literature Collections
- Varied Styles: Schaumm, Faber, Festival Collection (Helen Marlais), Collections by Melody Bober
- Pop: MusicNotes.com – search for specific titles. Modify w/ Easy Piano
Supplemental Material: Technique
- Beginners – Late Beginner Level: Dozen a Day Series (Leveled technique), Bartok, Mikrokosmos, Junior Hanon
- Beginners – Advanced: Scale collections by Bastien, Faber & ABRSM
- Intermediate: Bartok, Children at Play; Burgmuller Op. 100; Hanon, Book 1 & 2
- Advanced: Czerny, School of Velocity & Art of Finger Dexterity
Supplemental Material: Theory
- Beginners – Advanced: Fundamentals of Piano Theory by Keith Snell
- Beginners: Flash Cards
- Beginner – Advanced: Manuscript Paper (custom exercises)
- Beginner – Early Intermediate: Iawko Erasers (keyboard games)
- Beginner – Late Intermediate: Schaumm Note Speller & Rhythm Speller workbooks
Guitar Methods
For Young Beginners (Ages 4 - 8)
- Progressive’s Young Beginner Guitar Method
- FJH Young Beginner Guitar Method
- Hal Leonard’s Guitar for Kids
- Alfred’s Kids Guitar Course
- Hal Leonard’s Loog Guitar Method
Extras for Ages 4 - 8
- Hal Leonard’s Guitar for Kids Songbook
- Alfred’s Kid’s Guitar Course– Songbooks by style
- William Bay’s Children’s Guitar Chord Book
- Hal Leonard’s Big Book of Children’s Songs
For Late Elementary / Adult Beginners (Ages 9 - Adult)
- Hal Leonard’s Guitar Method Book series
- Alfred’s Basic Guitar Method
- Everybody’s Guitar Method Book
- Essential Elements for Guitar
- Mel Bay’s Modern Guitar Method, Grade 1
Alternate Method Books for Late Elementary – Adult Beginners
- Hal Leonard’s Ultimate TAB Method
- Guitar Book for Adult Beginners (Ferrante)
- Hal Leonard Rock Guitar Method
- FastTrack Guitar Method Book 1
- Hal Leonard’s Classical Guitar Book 1
- Werner’s Classical Guitar Method
- Christopher Parkening Guitar Method
- Hal Leonard’s Jazz Guitar Method
- Leavitt’s A Modern Method for Guitar
- Everybody’s Jazz Guitar Method
- Hal Leonard’s Jazz-Rock Fusion
- Ronny Lee’s Jazz Guitar Method Rhythm & Shapes
- Hal Leonard’s Power Chords
- Guitar Book for Adult Beginners – Ferrante
- Guitar Book for Kids 5 & Up – Ferrante
Supplemental Material: Chord Songbooks
- Alfred’s Easy Guitar Songs– Rock & Pop
- Alfred’s Easy Guitar Songs– Classic Rock
- Strum & Sing: The 5 Chord Songbook
- Strum & Sing: The 3 Chord Songbook
- Hal Leonard’s Simple Songs – the Easiest Easy Guitar Songbook Ever
- JustinGuitar Easy Guitar Songbook(up to 8 open chords!)
- First 50 Songs You Should Play on Acoustic Guitar
- Beatles Complete Chord Songbook
- Pop Songs for Kids– Really Easy Guitar Series – 22 Songs w/ Chords
- Hal Leonard’s The Guitar Three-Chord Songbook
Supplemental Material: Technique
- Guitar Aerobics
- Prato’s Classical Guitar Technique Book
- Pettingale’s Complete Technique for Modern Guitar
- Werner’s Classical Guitar Technique
- Guitar Scales in Context
- High Intensity Guitar Technique
- Shearer’s Classic Guitar Technique
- No Bull – The CAGED System for Guitar
Supplemental Material: Theory
- Hal Leonard’s Music Theory
- The Best Guitar Books for Beginners: How to Read Music 1
- Guitar Theory: Straight Talking Music Theory for Guitarists
- No Bull Music Theory for Guitarists
- Fretboard Theory
- Pettingale’s Practical Guide to Modern Music Theory for Guitarists